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Square Peg In a Round Hole
It has been four months now since the Enterprise began its five year mission. Spock finds that most days he can perform his duties with no difficulty. He lives for the days when there are intellectual challenges, new data to be gathered, new species to be discovered. These things secretly thrill and fascinate him. However, he is struggling with relationships, both professional and personal.
Some days Spock was certain he was just never going to fit in. He did not understand Kirk. His elder self said that theirs would be a life-defining friendship. How could this be when he was sometimes barely able to tolerate the man?
Spock was never entirely sure when Kirk was joking or being serious. His flamboyant style and irreverent disregard for regulations were annoying. His mother Amanda would have said that Kirk often plucked Spock's last nerve. Spock tried to understand, he tried to be patient. He tried to hold his tongue and study his captain's ways. It was very difficult.
And McCoy! McCoy was a definite thorn in Spock's side. The man was acerbic, sarcastic, and bigoted. He seemed to love to argue and was always trying to goad Spock into an emotional reaction. Once in a while he succeeded, much to Spock's chagrin.
Occasionally, the good doctor forgot just how sensitive Vulcan hearing was.
"I'm telling you Jim, the damn hobgoblin is uncooperative. He's ignored three of my requests for him to report for a physical. He had a few chronic health issues as a cadet that have to be followed up on. I don't want to force him, but if he doesn't come in soon, I'll put it in my report and you'll have to order him to do it."
"I'd rather not. Ask him again, nicely! Be a little patient. The guy is trying hard to fit in."
"Oh, he's trying, that's for sure."
"Bones! I'm trying to get Spock to feel like one of us. Like he belongs. I want the Enterprise to be one big, happy family"
"Yeah, well if a cat has kittens in the oven, we don't call'em biscuits. I sure can't see the hobgoblin and me as kinfolk."
Spock had trouble envisioning this, as well.
Spock decided to take lunch in his quarters. Nyota was working on a translation project and therefore unavailable. It was Tuesday, and time for his usual subspace chat with his cousin. Spock and Sirin had managed to connect with each other in some manner on almost every Tuesday since Spock's last year at the Academy.
"Good afternoon, Sirin. How are you today?"
"All is well with me and my family, cousin. Is your adjustment to life on the Enterprise going any better?"
"It is still proving to be a challenge. I know that the fault is mostly mine. I am the one who has chosen this life in a mostly Human culture. I should not expect them to bend to my way. However, I had hoped for a little more acceptance."
"It will come in time, Spock, when they get to know you. Trust me when I say that you are worth knowing. You have many fine qualities. Now, I must speak with you about something quite serious."
"Yes?"
"Physicians and healers are finding that many males are experiencing Pon Farr ahead of schedule. This may be due to stresses brought on by the genocide. You need to discuss the situation with your ship's doctor. I know this will be embarrassing and difficult. Your doctor will need to test your hormone levels weekly. I am sending you a data file you should give to him. Spock, you should also speak with Nyota. It is time she knew. She should be able to make an informed choice about bonding with you. It would not do to spring this upon her with no warning."
"Thank you, Sirin. Your counsel is wise and I shall act upon it. I will communicate with you next Tuesday. Live long and prosper."
"Peace and long life, my cousin."
The subspace call ended, and Spock downloaded the file Sirin had sent to a PADD. He considered for a moment, and then made a second copy. As he finished, he heard a faint beep. There was a message from Dr. McCoy on his personal data pad.
"Commander Spock, I respectfully request your presence in sickbay at 13:30 hours today for the purpose of a baseline medical examination. Please comply. Leonard H. McCoy, M.D."
That was just fifteen minutes from now. He would comply, get it all over with.
"Doctor."
"Commander, you're a bit early, but I'm not busy. Let's get started."
"If I may, there is a small matter I should like to discuss with you before we begin. Though perhaps it would be easier if you read this file first."
"Okay. Let's step into my office, and we can both have a seat." Spock followed as McCoy sat down at his desk and took a chair opposite him. McCoy read the information several times. Finally, he looked up at Spock.
"When was the last time you entered Pon Farr?"
"It has been five years, ten months, and seventeen days, Doctor."
"So it could happen at any time. This Dr. Sirin, is he an orthopedic surgeon at San Francisco General?"
"Yes. He is also my cousin. How do you know of him?"
"I messed up my knee playing soccer with Jim. Starfleet Medical referred me to him. He did a great job repairing it. I have a lot of respect for his talent. Actually, now that I think about it, I see a strong family resemblance. Well, let's get started on your physical. I'll draw these hormone levels with your other blood work. And, Spock, all of what you've said will be held in the strictest confidence, unless your life is on the line."
"Thank you, Doctor."
McCoy grumbled about Spock's unique physiology, but in the end pronounced him healthy. He made the Vulcan swear that he would come in for his weekly blood tests. The experience was not as bad as Spock had feared. Nyota had said that McCoy's "bark was worse than his bite." The doctor did truly seem to be concerned about his health.
Spock went to the bridge and finished his shift. The captain would be holding another of those "team-building exercise/dinner/staff meeting sessions in the Conference Room at 1800 hours. Tonight they would all be sharing music from their favorite albums. Spock dreaded this. He had already suffered through the bridge crews' favorite movies, which they had all watched together, one every Tuesday night.
Kirk had chosen Top Gun, a 20th century action/adventure film about pilot trainees. Spock rather enjoyed this one.
McCoy brought Gone With The Wind, which seemed to go on forever. Spock found him self agreeing with Rhett Butler. He didn't give a damn about that film.
Sulu's favorite was The Three Musketeers, the Gene Kelly version, totally re-mastered, of course. Spock was uncertain if this was swordplay or choreography. It was a bit confusing.
Chekov nearly provoked and emotional reaction from him with his choice of Friday The 13th, Part 113. He did not comprehend why anyone would choose to be frightened as entertainment. Starfleet service could be scary enough.
Mr. Scott's selection of Braveheart was probably Spock's favorite of the lot. He found himself identifying with William Wallace.
Spock was not surprised by Nyota's choice of The Wizard Of Oz. She had already made him watch it three times.
They were all speechless when Spock had shown up with The Princess Bride. He explained that it had been his childhood favorite and that he had not watched many films since. McCoy had laughed and called him "the Dread Pirate Roberts." Spock wondered how he knew that he used to pretend to be exactly that!
Dinner was make-your-own tacos. Spock detested crunchy finger food. He sometimes felt Kirk chose this type of fare on purpose to confound him. Vulcans simply did not eat with their hands. It was an ingrained behavior he just could not overcome. Spock picked up a few taco shells with tongs and dropped them into a bowl. He smashed them with a fork, drawing more than a few stares, and then made himself a vegetarian taco salad.
When everyone had food, Kirk stood for a moment. "Okay, folks, it's time to share your favorite song off your favorite album. Who wants to go first?"
McCoy stood up next. "I've got a great one. A mid-twentieth century country classic. You Done Stomped On My Heart sung by John Denver. Y'all are gonna love it." The tune drew groans from most of the others. Spock thought it was perhaps the most depressing song he had ever heard in his life.
Sulu shared a recording of his grandfather singing a Japanese folksong. Spock spoke very little Japanese, but found the music compelling. He approved of Sulu's choice.
Nyota played an Orion love song with a disco beat. How she loved to dance. Sometimes they would dance together in her quarters alone...
Scotty brought out an old Scottish classic The Queen of Old Argyle. Spock thought this a beautiful song, one he would try to play one his harp.
Chekov's choice was both amusing and surprising, a mid-twentieth mathematics professor named Tom Lehrer singing Lobachevsky. This was a song celebrating the joys of plagiarism. During his time as an instructor at Starfleet Academy, Spock had occasionally had to deal with that issue.
Spock nearly smiled over Kirk's choice, but caught himself in time. Kirk had chosen a song from Menace's fifth album, More Stuff We Decided To Cover. Menace was the "garage band" started by Spock's cousin Sirin. They only recorded albums, never toured. The selection was Whiter Shade of Pale, (the extended version) on which Spock himself had sung lead vocal and played the bass. If they only knew!
For his own selection, Spock played AC/DC's Thunderstruck. Everyone but McCoy seemed to appreciate it. "Thought you had sensitive hearing" grumbled the doctor. "Gonna go deaf if you keep listening to that crap!"
Spock actually enjoyed this team-building exercise. He was learning more about his fellow officers and they seemed to be worth the trouble. However, the meeting was over and he was to meet Nyota in her quarters as per their usual Tuesday night habit.
He allowed her to leave first, and then followed her after several minutes, so as to not arouse suspicions. Their relationship was still not known to most of the crew. He stopped in his quarters first to pick up the copy of Sirin's file with him and a Vulcan anatomy text.
Nyota primped a bit while she waited for Spock to arrive. She loved him deeply and knew that he cared for her. Things were just moving a bit too slowly for her. When she had first met Spock, she was a cadet and he an instructor. There was a strong attraction, but the relationship did not become physical due to ethical concerns. They went to concerts, ate dinner out together, and just spent lots of time in each other's company. It took the tragedy of Vulcan's destruction to put her in Spock's arms.
For someone who had twice rejected the expectations of his culture, Spock was a surprisingly traditional Vulcan. He had been raised to believe that sexual activity outside a bonded relationship was inappropriate. He was slowly coming around to her way of thinking, but Nyota grew somewhat frustrated. Something had to give. She hoped it would be Spock, and soon.
The buzzer for her quarters door sounded. It was Spock, as expected. He wore a rather serious expression. "We must talk. First I need you to read something." He gave her the information from Sirin.
Nyota read this over several times and then swallowed heavily. "When do you expect this to happen?"
"I did not expect it for over a year, but Sirin says it could happen at any time now. I had hoped to continue to court you slowly, gradually lead up to the subject. Bonding is a lifetime commitment, a permanent mental joining as well as a physical one. It is a decision that should not be made lightly. The Pon Farr is also physically demanding time for both partners. There is a possibility that I might seriously injure you. And there are some...anatomical differences between Vulcan and Human males that you should be aware of."
He handed her the anatomy text, which had a book mark in the appropriate chapter. Nyota examined the pictures, wide-eyed.
"There is one more thing, Nyota. I do not know if I can produce viable offspring. Hybrids are often sterile."
"Spock, you sound like you are trying to talk me out of bonding with you. Your parents would have had the same issues, but managed to overcome them. Spock, I love you and the thought of you bonding with someone else distresses me greatly. "
"Perhaps it would be wise for us to engage in some limited physical activity, so that you could make an informed decision. This may prove a little uncomfortable for me at first, as it runs a bit contrary to my upbringing. I am reminded of an old Terran saying. "Who buys a cow when they can get the milk for free?"
"There's another school of thought on that, you know. "Who buys a cow without first sampling the milk?" However, before I do any sampling, I'm going to visit the good doctor and make sure my shots are up to date. Just in case sterility is not an issue."
John Denver Singing You Done Stomped On My Heart ---(I wouldn't if I were you!)
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The Sons of Maxwell singing The Queen of Old Argyle
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Tom Lehrer singing Lobachevsky
.com/watch?v=UQHaGhC7C2E
AC/DC singing Thunderstruck
.com/watch?v=zvoeeq-BH4w
